How to Pack for United Basic Economy: Fit Your Trip in One 9 x 10 x 17 Bag
On most United Basic Economy tickets, you get one free bag: a personal item of 9 x 10 x 17 inches that fits under the seat. That's about 25 liters, the size of a small school backpack. You can fit two or three days in it if you plan for the space instead of fighting it. Here's how.
Start with a bag built for 17 x 10 x 9
Packing well can't fix a bag that's the wrong shape. Many "personal item" bags are made for 18 x 14 x 8, the size other US airlines use, and they're too wide for United. Check the listing for a size within 17 x 10 x 9 inches before you start.
A bag that opens fully like a suitcase is much easier to pack this tightly than one that opens only at the top. The ECOHUB 17-inch backpack we picked opens flat and has compression straps inside, so you can press a full load back into shape.
Wear your bulkiest things on the plane
Your shoes, jacket and thickest sweater take up the most room. Wear them. United says a jacket or coat doesn't count toward your bag, so a coat with deep pockets is free storage for your phone, earbuds and a snack.
Pack one pair of shoes at most, and only if they're flat. If you need a second bulky pair, that's a sign this trip needs a checked bag.
Use the extras United lets you carry for free
United lists a few things that don't count as your bag. Besides a jacket or coat, you can bring:
- An umbrella
- Things to read
- Food or other items bought at the airport
- A camera
- A diaper bag and breast pump, even without your child
So don't pack snacks or a water bottle from home if space is tight. Buy food after security, and carry it on in the airport's bag.
Pack in layers so you can reach what you need
Lay the bag open and fill it in this order:
- Bottom: shoes (in a bag) and anything you won't need until you arrive.
- Middle: clothes, rolled or folded flat. Underwear and socks fill the gaps around them.
- Top or front pocket: the quart bag of liquids, your charger and your medicine.
Your laptop goes in its own sleeve, against your back. At security you'll take out the laptop and the liquids bag, so both should come out without unpacking anything else.
United's advice is to keep medicine, keys and other essentials in your personal item. In Basic Economy that's your only bag, so this is easy. Just keep them where you can grab them.
Bring fewer clothes and plan to repeat them
Two or three days fit if you pick clothes that all go together. A good starting point for a short trip:
- 2 tops and 1 pair of pants or a skirt (plus what you wear)
- Underwear and socks for each day
- 1 light layer, like a thin sweater
- Sleepwear only if you need it
Keep travel-size toiletries to what fits in one quart bag, since liquids must be 3.4 ounces (100 mL) or less. If you're staying longer, plan a sink wash or a laundry stop instead of packing more.
Check the packed bag before you leave home
A soft bag that measures 17 x 10 x 9 empty can bulge past 9 inches deep when you stuff it. Before you leave, zip it, pull the compression straps tight and measure the deepest point. If it's over 9 inches, take something out of the front pocket first; that's usually where the bulge is.
United has bag sizers at the airport, so you can also check it there before you reach the gate. In Basic Economy, a bag that doesn't fit has to be checked, and checking it at the gate costs the most.
The short version
Start with a bag listed within 17 x 10 x 9. Wear your bulky things, use the free extras, pack in layers and measure the bag when it's full. For the full size and carry-on rules, see our guide to United Basic Economy personal item rules, and for bags that fit, our comparison of the best personal item bags for United Basic Economy.